bangalore: Robbers Break Through Bank Wall, Steal Rs 5 Million Cash, Gold

Bangalore, May 6 (IANS): Robbers carted away Rs 2.2 million in cash and gold and jewellery valued at Rs 2.8 million from a branch of state-run Vijaya Bank here early Friday after drilling a hole through the bank's rear wall, a senior police official said.

"The robbery appears to have taken place in the early hours when more than two miscreants sneaked into the unguarded bank from the back wall after drilling a big hole through it. Before breaking into the strong room, the thieves destroyed cameras, closed circuit television sets (CCTVs) and other security systems," Bangalore Northeast Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ravi Kanthe Gowda told reporters here.

The robbery came to light when the lone security guard alerted the police and officials after he arrived for morning duty though the branch at Vidyaranyapura was shut on account of holiday for Basava Jayanti.

"The miscreants took advantage of a vacant site behind the branch building and absence of a night security guard. Though two robbery attempts were made earlier, the bank failed to have a night security guard or take fool-proof measures to protect it," Gowda said.

The Chikkajala police station registered a robbery case on a written complaint by the branch officials, who found a dozen lockers, files and important documents were destroyed.

"We have formed three special teams to investigate the case and collected fingerprints and other circumstantial evidence in the branch premises to trace the culprits," Gowda added.